744 REPORT UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



isb-yellow, with no other markings ; the legs are a little paler toward the articulations. 

 The antenuse are eigbt-joiuted, slightly longer than the head ; the two basal joints are the 

 largest; the three succeeding joints equal, regularly ovate, the sixth alirtle longer than 

 the fifth ; seventh and eighth minute, seventh a little shorter than eighth, each joint 

 bearing lour large bristles. This species differs from the European L. cereaUum in hav- 

 ing but eight joints, the seventh and eighth being minute, and with no intermediate 

 short one, as described in the European insect. 



"The prothorax is square, the scutellum short, crescent-shaped, and the abdomen is 

 long and narrow, smooth and shining, ten-jointed. Length, four one-hundredths of an 

 inch, or less than half a line. 



"The larva (Plate LXVII, Fig. 4 h) is entirely greenish-yellow, the head and prothorax 

 of the same color as the rest of the body ; the eyes are reddish ; the feet and antennte are 

 whitish, not annulated, as in L. cereaUum; the feet (tarsi) consist of but a single 

 joint ending in a point. 



"The male (Plate LXVII, Fig. 4 a) differs from the larva in having two-jointed feet 

 (tarsi) and seven-jointed antennae, those of the larva being four-jointed. The second joint 

 is exactly barrel-shaped, with two ridges or lines surrounding it, third and fourth joints 

 long, ovate, the third being a little larger than the fourth, and with about twelve trans- 

 verse lines, there being about eight on the fourth joint, from the end of which projects 

 a remarkable tubercle, as seen in the figure. The fifth joint is square at the end, with 

 about eleven transverse lines, and three or four stout hairs externally ; sixth joint 

 minute and spherical, while the sevench is tliree times as long as the sixth, and is finely 

 sti'iated, and with four unequal stout hairs. It is just twice the length of the female, 

 measuring 0.08 inch. 



'■^Remedies. — The best remedy of a preventive nature against further 

 ravages, after this insect has made its appearahce, Is to build a bonfire 

 upon the diseased patch, pull up the onions about, and throw them into 

 it. By thus sacrificing a few onions at the outset, the evil may be 

 nipped in the bud. As remedies less effective we would recommend 

 showering the plants with strong soap-suds, or sprinkling tbera with 

 sulphur, or the use of a solution of copperas, such as is used in killing 

 the currant saw-fly, i. e., a solution of a pound of copperas to ten gallons 

 of water. The use of a carbolate of lime or air-slaked lime may also 

 be recommended. 



"A heavy shower of rain will cause them to disappear for a while, 

 and they probably only appear in such overwhelming numbers as this 

 past year in consequence of the summer being an unusually dry and 

 warm one." 



INSECTS INJURING THE TURNIP. 



The Turnip Flea-Beetle, Ealtica (Orchestris) striolata Uliger. — Feeding on the 

 seed-leaves in the sprtng and later ; small, yellow-striped, flea-beetles. In June, the 

 plants die from the attacks of the grubs wliich live in the roots. 



This is a very annoying little beetle, universally abundant in gardens, 

 and especially injurious to the seed-leaves of tbe turnips, cabbage, and 

 other garden-vegetables. The fullest account which we have of its 

 habits is that given by Dr. Shimer in the American Naturalist, vol. 2, p. 

 514, which I copy: 



"This beautiful little beetle, also called striped turnip-fly [Haltica 

 striolata Fabricius) at the West, is well known and abundant. Every 

 gardener is conversant with the fact that, like fleas, grasshoppers, etc., 

 it springs away to a great distance when he attempts to put his finger 

 upon it. It appears in early vSi)ring, and is a constant annoyance to the 

 gardener during the whole summer. 



" From my notes I see that on June 14, 1865, I put a number of the 

 larvae into a breeding-box, with a supply of their natural food. June 

 17 some of the larvae had disappeared beneath the ground. July 4, 1 

 found in the box the beetle. This gives us seventeen days from the 

 time the larva entered the ground, having ceased eating, until I ob- 

 tained the perfect insect. 1 did not open the breeding-box every day, 



